World Cup TV guide: how to watch all the action from Russia 2018

But even to those who are obsessive over the beautiful game, 64 matches - sometimes as many as four a day - dragged out over a month can seem a little daunting.

Fear not: television coverage of events from Russia is once again extensive, but not so hard to wrap your head around.

Here's everything you need to know about watching Russia 2018 from your sofa.

Which TV channels are broadcasting the matches?

The broadcasting duties for the World Cup will be split between the UK's two largest broadcasters: half the games will be shown on BBC, and half on ITV.

Most of the games will be broadcast on BBC One and ITV1, though it's worth noting that some games will be appearing on BBC Two, BBC Four and ITV4 when we reach the closing matches of the group stages.

We've noted which games will be broadcast where in our fixture guide below.

The broadcasters of the games in the knockout stage of the tournament are subject to change, and both will be showing the final on Sunday 15 July.

All of the action will be free to watch, and all games will also be available to stream online through the channel's relevant services (iPlayer and ITV Hub).

When does it all kick off?

The first blow of the whistle will be at 4pm on Thursday 14 June as host nation Russia take on Saudi Arabia in the tournament's opening match. That game will be shown on ITV1.

But before that, coverage of the opening ceremony begins on the same channel at 2.30pm.

What's the plan for the opening ceremony?

Robbie Williams fans, take note. The 90s pop icon will be headlining the opening bash, performing in front of a capacity crowd inside Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, where the final will be held a month later.

He will be joined by more than 500 dancers, gymnasts and trampolinists, who are set to showcase the history of Russia and its culture.

The ceremony itself kicks off at 3.30pm - just half an hour before the start of the first game - and will be a shorter than usual affair focusing on musical acts:Â opera singer Placido Domingo and Russian soprano Aida Garifullina are also set to appear.

Sunday 15 July 2018:

Who are the pundits on BBC and ITV this year?

BBC

Gary Lineker and Gabby Logan will lead the coverage, joined by Match of the Day regulars likeÂ Alan Shearer,Â Phil Neville, Jermaine Jenas, Danny Murphy, and Martin Keown.

Also on the team are England footballing legendsÂ Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand,Â England women's football star Alex Scott, Chelsea and Ivory Coast favouriteÂ Didier Drogba, and Jurgen Klinsmann, who won the 1990 World Cup with Germany.

Spanish international Cesc Fabregas has also been announced as a pundit, and Pablo Zabaleta, who played in the 2014 World Cup Final, will also be on the team.

The BBC's punditry team - led by Gary Lineker - are ready to tackle the World Cup (Photo: BBC)

ITV

Mark Pougatch and Jacqui Oatley are the lead presenters for ITV's coverage.

They'll be joined by a big line-up of pundits - the 'headliner' or which is arguably Gary Neville - including a trio of former Manchester United players inÂ Patrice Evra, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs.

Referee Mark Clattenburg will be offering his insight on the tournament's controversial decisions, while former West Ham manager Slaven Bilic and current Republic of Ireland head coach Martin O'Neill round out the team.

Who are the commentators?

BBC

Anybody who's watched a match on the BBC in recent years will be familiar withÂ Guy Mowbray, Jonathan Pearce and Simon Brotherton, who will be the Beeb's leading voices during games.

They'll be joined by co-commentators Mark Lawrenson and Kevin Kilbane. But it's Vicki Sparks who's the one to watch here; she'll be making history as the first woman to commentate at a World Cup on British TV.

ITV

ITV's go-to footballing voices will be in force to provide commentary on the games; Clive Tyldesley, Sam Matterface and Jon Champion will be your main commentators.

What else is there to watch?

The coverage of the World Cup will be extensive, but it's not just the games themselves that will be vying for your attention.

Match of the Day will be providing highlights of all the games on the days when the BBC is showing fewer live games than ITV, and ITV return the favour on the days the BBC gets to have all the fun with their 'World Cup Highlights' show.

Both will be broadcast around 10.30pm on their respective channels, and the BBC will be putting together highlights from every game on YouTube.

Following England's final group game against Belgium on Thursday June 28, Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid are set to host a one-off, late-night version of their breakfast show called 'Good Evening Britain'.

Aside from all the usual radio coverage on 5 Live - who are broadcasting every game as it happens - the station also gives us Robbie Savage's World Cup Breakfast every morning of the tournament.

There's even more tidbits online: the BBC will be offering viewers the chance to watch games in 'virtual reality' through their app; as if you are in a private box at the stadium.

ITV are also collaborating with freestyle footballing duo F2 who will produce highlights packages - goals and moments interspersed with their own impressive ball trickery - and Mark Pougatch and Jacqui Oatley will be fronting numerous official podcasts throughout the tournament.